DUSHANBE, September 30, 2015, Asia-Plus – On Tuesday September 29, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov held talks with the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier in New York on the sidelines of the 70th session of United Nations General Assembly.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, the two exchanged views on state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Aslov and Zannier reportedly also discussed a number of international and regional issues being mutual interest.

The OSCE’s engagement in Tajikistan began in February 1994.  The Mission’s initial mandate was to facilitate dialogue between regional and political forces; promote respect for human rights; foster and monitor Tajikistan’s adherence to OSCE norms and principles; and help the country develop its legal and democratic institutions and processes.  In 2002, a new broadened mandate established the Center in Dushanbe and included economic and environmental security issues.  Six years later, the States adopted an even more robust mandate, introducing the complex area of border management into the OSCE’s tasks and changing the name of the Center to Office in Tajikistan.